Shill Bill
Former President Clinton slogged through the talk show circuit this week promoting his 957-page autobiography, “My Life.” Along the way, he encountered diffident anchors, indulgent hosts and uncompromising journalists who made him squirm before moving on to Mary-Kate Olsen’s eating disorder. For his part, Clinton mostly kept his temper and stuck dutifully, if often verbatim, to his talking points.
Show: 60 Minutes
As seen on TV: With Dan Rather
Airdate: Last Sunday, 7 p.m.
The vibe: Man-to-Dan.
Fashion statement: Clinton’s red sneakers add poignancy to tender moment on childhood porch.
Opening shot: “What do you consider the greatest accomplishment of your presidency?”
Secret weapon: Rather’s never-before-seen video of Clinton’s late mother nearly results in a presidential leak.
Burning question: On brokering peace on TV: Just how do you deflect an incoming kiss from Yasser Arafat?
Analyze this: “Maybe mother liked guys that were a little bit rakish.”
Upshot: Winsome portrait of Bubba, statesman, sure to give already stratospheric sales that deep-space boost.
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Show: Oprah Winfrey
As seen on TV: With Oprah Winfrey
Airdate: Tuesday, 3 p.m.
The vibe: Tell Mother everything.
Fashion statement: Pink tie to match Oprah’s pink ensemble, and hello king and queen of the prom.
Opening shot: “Word has it that you’re on the South Beach diet.”
Secret weapon: Remarkable ability to treat a former president exactly as she would an Olsen twin.
Burning question: On couch-sleeping sojourn: “Wasn’t there another bedroom?”
Analyze this: “I was all alone again, just as I had been when I was a little boy.”
Upshot: Behold the awesome book-selling power of Oprah.
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Show: Today
As seen on TV: With Katie Couric
Airdate: Wednesday, 7 a.m.
The vibe: When infotainers attack.
Fashion statement: Sober blue suit, shirt and tie clash with inane line of questioning.
Opening shot: “A lot of people are going to turn to the index and look up under L.... Does that bother you?”
Secret weapon: Remarkable ability to emulate an Olsen twin while interviewing a former president.
Burning question: On awkward adolescence: “Do you ever still feel like that fat band boy?”
Analyze this: “I saw all the [Easter] eggs and I never got to them in time.”
Upshot: Rare chance for “hard-hitting” interview temporarily overtakes “Today’s” natural shilling instincts.
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Show: Good Morning America
As seen on TV: With Charles Gibson
Airdate: Wednesday, 7 a.m.
The vibe: When infotainers attack again.
Fashion statement: No time to change, but crossed arms complete the look.
Opening shot: “Those who were out to get you, the right-wing conspiracy ... didn’t you just hand them the sword?”
Secret weapon: Provocative disregard for decorum falls short of mark, lands squarely in tetchy schoolmarm zone.
Burning question: On the Lewinsky affair: “What the hell were you thinking?”
Analyze this: “Most personal encounters are not entirely rational.”
Upshot: Rare chance for “hard-hitting” interview emboldens mild-mannered morning show anchor to use word “hell.”
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Show: Larry King Live
As seen on TV: With Larry King
Airdate: Thursday, 6 p.m.
The vibe: Tell Larry everything.
Fashion statement: Red tie, white shirt, blue suit but who cares when Larry is wearing lilac, red and black?
Opening shot: “What was that signing like yesterday in New York when you had all those thousands of people?”
Secret weapon: Remarkable ability to interview Clinton as if it’s 2004, not 1999.
Burning question: On what matters: “First things first, we got major news today out of Iraq.... What do you make of that?”
Analyze this: “That old business about Venus and Mars ... there’s something to that.”
Upshot: After a long week of cheap shots, geriatric homages and couchy intimacy, the kid comes back. It’s Bill Clinton, Superstar!
- Carina Chocano
